Is Our Whole Existence a Grand Illusion?

Illusion noun il·lu·sion \i-ˈlü-zhən\: something that looks or seems different from what it is: something that is false or not real but that seems to be true or real

Now that we are shown the definition of the object of this topic allow me to ask you, my dear reader: Have you ever been entangled in illusion at any point of your life? Yes, no or still uncertain?

Let me assist you in clarifying your own thoughts and answering a question that is fair and true to yourself. Answer as fast as you can – preferably out loud by imagining that you are facing yourself as an interrogator.

Ask yourself the ultimate question: WHO AM I?

1… 7… 13… 2… 6… 8… 12… 3… 5… 9… 11… 4… 10…

Besides distracting you, these numbers are there to show you visually your own ability to (not) come up with an answer in the shortest amount of time possible. And I did not ask you, my dear reader, something that is unknown to you, did I? Well, now – are you satisfied with your answer? There is no one here to judge you if you cheat on answering, is there?
After this a bit unorthodox introduction I would like to present to you the meaning of the headline of this article – The theory of life as a Grand illusion.

From the moment we are born, in a corporeal form, into this world we are deprived of an identity of our own. Genetically we are a mix of our parents, grandparents and our ancestors. Shaped by our closest environment – for the good or the bad – we are all but the image of our true self that countless religions point out that we should be. And we must not blame ourselves. We absolutely had no choice.

And even after all the trauma or happiness of growing up, there is something that was there all the time in each and every one of us that ever existed. Can you guess what that is?

The answer is INTEGRITY. The state of being complete or whole.

I shall allow myself to point out that we are being bombarded by the influx of countless stimuli each and every day and whether we allow it to affect us or not is a reflection of the integrity of our being.

Now, when that is out of the way, let me point out what is the merit of the lack of integrity – an illusory behavior based on the influence of the outside induced stimuli. Short and simple it means losing yourself to lies, deception and manipulation.

The importance of living as a being of integrity is the state of being as pure a soul as it is intended for all of us to be. Our short existence in this form of bones and flesh is riddled with questions for which we may never get the answers to. Why should we deceive ourselves that we need anything material to be happy or fulfilled? And yet we do it all the time. There is always something that we feel we need to have in our possession and yet even when we conquer all the obstacles and ourselves in order to accomplish our goal we are left with a feeling of emptiness. So we go and find another goal to fill the void and on and on the cycle goes on until we find ourselves confused by the true emptiness of life we are consequentially left with in the end.

This has been a topic of countless souls that inhabited this planet before us. Religions were in their essence created to try to lead us on a path that will keep our integrity and guide us in a way that will show us the beauty of creation and existence.

For example, Hinduism is strictly pointing out the Maya – the illusion that envelops us and keeps us from finding our true selves by the means of traps that are ever present. Taoism points out that that there is a true path we must walk through our lives with an integrity of our being. Christianity teaches us how we should live our lives in devotion by the means of commandments.

Many religions point out that the way to attain true self is by means of resisting the temptations that are all around us. Temptations are the influences of the environment but also ultimately the projections of our mind. Our mind is the greatest source of illusion. If you do not believe me then remember the biggest disappointment in your life and maybe you will see how it came to that happening.

We always know the cause of everything that is happening to us all the time and yet we still allow our minds to pretend that we are oblivious to the consequences of our actions. We are all responsible for our actions at all times whether we want to accept it or continue to lie to ourselves.

The best way to live your life, my dear reader, is by means of being true to yourself. That is the answer of the countless many that have pondered about the way life should be lived. That is the ultimate truth.